The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of social factors on the reconstruction of the organizational image of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. In the qualitative stage of the research, the components of social factors were extracted through thematic analysis with the benefit of semi-structured interviews with experts and their validity was confirmed using the fuzzy Delphi method. Accordingly, three constructs of academic legitimacy, institutionalization and institutional autonomy, and social systems were identified as the main dimensions of social factors. In the quantitative stage, the effect of these constructs on organizational image reconstruction was tested using a survey approach. The research data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire and collected from 400 university graduates. The validity of the measurement tool was confirmed using face validity, content validity, and confirmatory factor analysis, and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha, combined reliability, and extracted mean variance (AVE). Data analysis was performed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings of the research showed that social factors have a positive and significant effect on the reconstruction of the organizational image of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. Also, all three dimensions of academic legitimacy, institutionalization, institutional independence, and social systems have a positive and significant effect on the reconstruction of organizational image and play an effective role in explaining it. The results of the research indicate that strengthening academic legitimacy, developing independent and efficient institutions, and promoting social systems can increase public trust, provide the ground for restructuring the organizational image of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, and help to improve the quality of governance and improve the position of the country's higher education system